David Lynch Was Working On A Movie For Madonna In The 1990s That Never Came To Be

Throughout his career, David Lynch often crossed paths with Barry Gifford. It was from Gifford’s novel of the same name that Lynch adapted Wild At Heart. Later, they collaborated on two episodes of Lynch’s HBO anthology Hotel Room; then they co-wrote Lost Highway together. But not all of Gifford and Lynch’s work together made it into production. In the new issue of Empire, our feature celebrating the late, great Lynch includes a tribute from Gifford, looking back on his time working with the legendary filmmaker – in which he opens up on a film project they were cooking up for Madonna.

“[Lynch and I] talked about many other projects which never came to fruition. There was one that Madonna was supposed to star in,” Gifford explains in Empire. “This was after Wild At Heart; [producer] Monty Montgomery wanted me and David to come up with a story that she could do.” While it never came to be, there was an outline for what the feature might have been. “I wrote a story about a woman who worked in a bar in the countryside,” he notes, “and there was some conflict with the men she consorted with.” There was also, he says, “a project about a battery that could last forever. It had something to do with aliens.”

While those projects never came to be, Gifford at least got the chance to see his Wild At Heart characters through Lynch’s unique lens. “It was wonderful to see my characters move. You get a kick, man,” he says. “Especially if it’s done well. And there was only one David Lynch.”

Read Barry Gifford’s full David Lynch tribute in the April 2025 issue of Empire, on sale Thursday 13 February. Pre-order a copy online here.